User interface apparatus for vehicles and vehicle having the same

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10142671-B2
Application number	US-201715435625-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Feb 17, 2017
Priority date	Feb 19, 2016
Publication date	Nov 27, 2018
Grant date	Nov 27, 2018

Abstract

Disclosed herein is a user interface apparatus for vehicles including light sources, a touch sensor to sense touch, light guides to transfer light generated by the light sources, and a top cover to cover the light sources, the touch sensor and the light guides and to transmit light emitted from the light guides to the interior of a vehicle. The light sources includes a first light source and at least one second light sources, the light guides includes first and second light guides to receive light generated by the first light source and to transfer the light to first and second regions and at least one third light guide configured to receive light generated by the at least one second light source and to transfer the light to a third region, and light generated by the first light source is dispersed and provided to the first and second light guides.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A user interface apparatus for vehicles comprising:
light sources;
a touch sensor configured to sense touch;
light guides configured to transfer light generated by the light sources; and
a top cover configured to cover the light sources, the touch sensor and the light guides and to transmit light emitted from the light guides to the interior of a vehicle so as to project an image, wherein:
the light sources include a first light source and at least one second light sources;
the light guides include:
a first light guide configured to receive light generated by the first light source and to transfer the light to a first region of the top cover, the first region being configured to indicate functions of the user interface apparatus to a user based on receiving the light from the first light guide;
a second light guide configured to receive light generated by the first light source and to transfer the light to a second region of the top cover, the second region being configured to indicate a position of the touch sensor to the user based on receiving the light from the second light guide; and
at least one third light guide configured to receive light generated by the at least one second light source and to transfer the light to a third region of the top cover, the third region being configured to indicate states of the functions of the user interface apparatus to the user based on receiving the light from the at least one third light guide; and

light generated by the first light source is dispersed and provided to the first light guide and the second light guide,
wherein the touch sensor includes an input area configured to receive one or more touch inputs from the user,
wherein the first light guide source is configured to generate light in response to the touch sensor detecting a first touch input on the input area based on lack of detection of a prior touch input for a designated time, and
wherein the at least one second light source is configured to generate light in response to the touch sensor detecting a second touch input on the input area within the designated time after detection of the first touch input.

2. The user interface apparatus for vehicles according to claim 1 , wherein:
the top cover includes a light transmission part corresponding to the first to third regions and having a designated light transmittance, and an interception part to block light; and
the thickness of the light transmission part is less than the thickness of the interception part.

3. The user interface apparatus for vehicles according to claim 2 , further comprising color filters configured to change wavelengths of light supplied from the light guides and then to provide the light having changed wavelengths to the first to third regions of the top cover.

4. The user interface apparatus for vehicles according to claim 1 , further comprising a light interception filter configured to transmit light from the light guides and then to provide the light to the first to third regions of the top cover, and to restrict transmission of light from the light guides to other regions of the top cover except for the first to third regions.

5. The user interface apparatus for vehicles according to claim 1 , wherein the touch sensor is disposed such that at least a part of the touch sensor may vertically overlap the second light guide.

6. The user interface apparatus for vehicles according to claim 1 , wherein the first to third light guides are separated from one another.

7. The user interface apparatus for vehicles according to claim 1 , wherein the first to third light guides are formed integrally; and
the first to third light guides further includes partitions to define boundaries between the first to third light guides and to block light.

8. The user interface apparatus for vehicles according to claim 1 , further comprising a light path conversion unit configured to disperse light incident from the first light source so as to provide the light to the first light guide and the second light guide.

9. The user interface apparatus for vehicles according to claim 8 , wherein the light path conversion unit includes a reflector including:
a first reflective surface configured to receive light provided from the first light source and to reflect the light toward the first light guide; and
a second reflective surface disposed at a designated angle from the first reflective surface and configured to receive light incident from the first light source and to reflect the light toward the second light guide.

10. The user interface apparatus for vehicles according to claim 9 , wherein the length of the second light guide is greater than the length of the first light guide.

11. The user interface apparatus for vehicles according to claim 10 , wherein the quantity of light incident upon the second reflective surface from the first light source is greater than the quantity of light incident upon the first reflective surface from the first light source.

12. The user interface apparatus for vehicles according to claim 1 , further comprising a first subsidiary light source configured to provide light to the second light guide.

13. The user interface apparatus for vehicles according to claim 12 , wherein the first light source is disposed adjacent to one end of the second light guide in the length direction, and the first subsidiary light source is disposed adjacent to the other end of the second light guide in the length direction.

14. The user interface apparatus for vehicles according to claim 1 , wherein:
the second light guide includes reflective protrusions to reflect light provided from the first light source; and
pitches between the reflective protrusions are decreased as the distance between the reflective protrusions and the first light source increases.

15. The user interface apparatus for vehicles according to claim 1 , wherein the second light guide includes:
an incidence surface configured to receive light incident from the first light source;
an emission surface disposed so as to intersect the incidence surface, having a greater area than that of the incidence surface, and configured to emit light incident through the incidence surface; and
a transfer surface disposed opposite the emission surface and configured to reflect light incident through the incidence surface so as to transfer the light,
wherein the transfer surface approaches the emission surface as the distance between the transfer surface and the first light source increases.

16. The user interface apparatus for vehicles according to claim 1 , wherein:
a plurality of second light sources is disposed; and
third light guides are provided in a number corresponding to the number of the second light sources,
the user interface apparatus for vehicles further comprising interception ribs disposed between the third light guides so as to intercept light.

17. The user interface apparatus for vehicles according to claim 16 , further comprising a circuit board having light transmittance and configured to provide a space to locate the light sources and the touch sensor therein,
wherein the interception ribs protrude from the circuit board.

18. The user interface apparatus for vehicles according to claim 1 , further comprising a circuit board having light transmittance and configured to provide a space to locate the light sources and the touch sensor therein.

19. The user interface apparatus for vehicles according to claim 1 , further comprising a processor configured t

Assignees

• Lg Electronics Inc

Inventors

• Jung Mingoan
• Kang Hyungoo
• Kim Jihyun
• Yoon Wonsok
• Kweon Ohjin
• Lee Kyoungil
• Lee Seunggyu
• Kim Jonghoon
• Lee Yeonji
• Oh Heonsuk

Classifications

• G06F2203/0339

  Touch strips, e.g. orthogonal touch strips to control cursor movement or scrolling; single touch strip to adjust parameter or to implement a row of soft keys · CPC title

• G06F3/03547

  Touch pads, in which fingers can move on a surface · CPC title

• H04N21/414

  Specialised client platforms, e.g. receiver in car or embedded in a mobile appliance · CPC title

• H04N21/41422 Primary

  located in transportation means, e.g. personal vehicle (arrangements specially adapted for transportation systems in broadcast systems H04H20/62) · CPC title

• H04N21/40

  Client devices specifically adapted for the reception of or interaction with content, e.g. set-top-box [STB]; Operations thereof · CPC title